Feed mechanism for mixing-mills.



P. E. WELTON.

FEED MECHANISM FOR MIXING MILLS. APPLICATION mm MAR. 8. I915.

Patnted Feb. 29,1916.

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P. E. WELTON.

FEED MECHANISM FOR MIXING MILLS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1915.

1,1?3,626. Patented Feb. 29,1916;

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itself evenly upon which drives it.

' front edge of the apron a rate of ED s'rs PARK E. WELTON, OF CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO KATHARINE B. WEL'EON OF CUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application filed March 8, 1915. Serial No. 12,794.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, PARK E. VELTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Guyahoga Falls, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Feed Mechanism for. Mixing-Mills, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

When an endless feed apron is applied to a rubber mixing mill for the purpose of catching the plastic rubber compound which, drops after passing between the mixing rolls and returning said compound to said mixing rolls, one great obstacle to the practical success of said sociated mechanism is the disposition of said apron to travel faster at one edge than at the other, and, consequently, to acquire a sidewise movement which, if not controlled, will soon render the feed mechanism inoperative. This is due to the fact that theplastic rubber compound, when it drops onto the feed apron, does not spread the same from side to side, but, on the contrary, is in the form of lumps which fall haphaiard on the apron at varionsplaces between its sides. If, for example, a thick lump of the rubber compound falls into the apron near its front side, this lump will be carried betweenthe apron and the surface .of that mixing roll This lump in effect in creases the diameter of said driving roll at this point, and therefore imparts to the travel which exceeds that of. the rear edge of the apron. In other words, the effect upon the apron is substantially as if the apron driv-' ing mixing roll, instead of being a true cylinder, were shaped irregularly with its greatest diameter sometimes near one en and sometimes near the other, and sometimes at all sorts of unexpectedpoints between said ends.

The primary object of this invention is to provide mechanism which will permit the two edges of the mixing apron to travel at any required relative rates while ingcontact with said mixing roll, but whioinwill prevent such inequalities of movement from extending throughout the length 'of the apron, or, in other words, to compel the apron to move at equal rates from-side to side at all points in itsilen'gth except the parts which are in contact'w th or immedh feed apronand its asately adjacent to the apron driving mixing roll, and yet to permit such; inequalities of movement of that part ofthe apron which is in contact with the mixing roll as is necessary under the stated circumstances.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts shown .in the drawings, and hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation ofthe invention; Fig. 2 isa sectional end view in the plane indicated. by line 2-2 of; Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view, from the left end of Fig. 1, of one of the standards and the parts associated therewith and the adjacent rod 15; Fig. a is. a plan view of the apron feeding mechanism, disassociated from the mixing mill and sectioned in plane of line4..4 of Fig. 1.,

Referring to the partsby reference char-- acters, l and 2 represent the mixing rolls of an ordinary rubber mixing mill No attempt has been madeto show the mechanism by which these rolls are turned because that is no part of the present invention. It must be assumed, however, that suitable mechanism is associated with these rolls tocause them to turn at the proper rate in the directions indicated by the arrows placed on said rolls in Fig. 1..

In order that any rubber mixing mill may be quickly equipped with this invention, the feed apron 3 and the mechanism associated therewith are, with the exception of certain standards, 45', all mounted and supported on a'pan 10, which maybe placed and secured in" proper position beneath the mixing rolls. The endless feed apron 3 runs over three apron rolls 4, 5 6, whose axes are parallel with the axes of the mixing rolls; and said apron. rolls are so mounted that they may assume the operating position relative to. the mixing rolls which is shown in Fig. 1,, whereby the apron will pass beneath the two mixing rolls, and then be held against a part of the surface of the mixing roll I, which therefore serves as the apron driving .roll and causes the contacting feed apron to travel atthe same surface speed.

The roll 4 is mounted in bearing brackets 7 which are fixed respectively to tire-par- .allel bars 8 located adjacent to opposite sides of the pan.

These bars are slide-isle endwise in brackets 12 and 13. fixed to fh sides of the pan near the ends of the latter, The roll 5 is rotatably mounted in bearings carried by the brackets 13. Two arms 14 are pivoted respectively to these same brackets 13 on axes which are Substantially coincident with the axis of the feed roll 5. Rods 15 secured to these arms 14 extend upward at an inclination toward the-mixing roll 1, and at their upper ends they overhang said mixing roll. The roll 6 is rotatably mounted at its ends in bearings carried by two sleeves 16 which are respectively slidable upon the two rods l5 At the upper end of each of the rods 15 is a sheave 17, A cable 18 is fixed to "each of the sleeves 16, and passes upward over the associated sheave 17, thence downto a sheave 19 mounted in brackets on the under side of the pan, and thence to a winding drum 20. The two winding drums are fixe to a horizontal shaft mounted in suitable bearings 21 which are secured and project downward from the bottom of the pan. The

, two drums are fixed to ashaft 22 which carries near its middle a pinion 23, and this is engaged by a rack bar 24fixed to thenpiston rod 25 of a pneumatic cylinder 26, which is preferably supported from the-under side of the pan. When air is admitted to this cylinder through theair. inlet 27 the piston which is shown by dottedli-nes in Fig. 1 will be ieldingly pushed toward the opposit ends of the cylinder, and thereby the shaft 22 and the winding drums thereon will be turned in the direction to wind up the cable 18 and thereby apply'an elastic force to the sleeves 16 tending to move them up on the rods 15. This causes a like move- ,mentofthe apron roll 6, and this tightens the mixing apron and drawsit against the mixing roll 1. There is aiso a pressure roll 30 which is located close to the apron roll 5.} This is mounted in bearings carried by two sleeves 31 which are slidably mounted upon the rods 8. A spring 32 around each rod 8 is compressed between the associated sleeve 31 and a collar 33 fixed to the rod 8. .These springs, therefore, actalways on the two sleeves 31 to so move them as to yield- -ingly push the pressure roll 30 toward the roll 5, and to likewise push the rods 8 in the contrary direction, thereby moving apron roll 4 in the apron tightening direction. vThe mixing apron 3 after passing under roll 5 passes up between it and roll 30, and thence over roll 30 to roll 4. The roll 30 is so placed with respect 'to roll 5 that the feed apron passing between those tworolls will be clamped between them.

from side to side; and thereby the apron is compelled to move at equal rates from side to side at the points where it passes between these two rolls.

The two rods 8' at the ends thereof which are adiacent to the roll 4 are each provided with a head 9. A rock shaft 40 is mounted in brackets 41 fixed to the adjacent end of the pan, and it has two upwardly projectlng arms 42, each containing a slot 43. Into each of these slots a pin 9 projects which is fixed to the adjacent head 9. This mechanism is for the purpose of equalizing and synchronizing the endwise movements of the rods 8, or, in other words, of compelling them to move equally in the same direction whenever either is moved in the manner to be described.

Two standards 45 aresecured preferably to the top of the side members 46 of the mixing mill frame; and in the upper ends of these a rock shaft 47 is mounted. Thisis provided with two arms 48, and these arms are connected by links 49 with the upper ends of the two rods 15; and a weight ed arm 50 is fixed to this shaft in such position that it tends to rock it in the direction which will swing the two arms 15 away from the mixing rolls.

When in the operation of the mixing mill and the described feeding mechanism, a

lump of the material being mixed falls onto front edge of the apron which is between the mixing roll and the apron roll 5, and a little tightening of the front edge of the apron between the mixing roll and the-apron roll 4. This may cause the front end of the roll 4 to be drawn toward the roll 5; if it is, the rear end of roll 4 must move equally in the same direction because of the equalizing mechanism described, which connects the two ends of the rods 8. These rods-will therefore be moved equally to the left as shown in Fig. 1. This will increase the tension-on the two springs 32, and this will result in increasing the clamping action which the pressure roll 30 applies to that part of the apron which is passing between it and the roll 5. Because of this clamping action, the apron as it passes between these rolls must move at equal rates at both edges.

The presence of the lump as described between the mixing roll and the front edge of the apron will also cause the front rod 15 to swing a little away from the mixing roll; but because of the equalizing mechanism connected with the upper ends of both rods 15, these two rods must swing simultaneously and equally. This preserves substantially the parallelism of the roll 6 with the roll 5, and this in an appreciable degree, contributes to the prevention of any lateral movementof the feed apron.

In fact, all of the described parts have such cooperative action that any lateral movement of the feed apron is substantially impossible, however variable may be the size of the lumps of material which fall upon the apron, and however irregularly those lumps may be disposed upon the apron from side to side.

Having described my invention, claim:

I. In combination with the mixing rolls of a mixing mill, three apron rolls, viz., two rolls which are located in planes below the mixing rolls, and one roll which is located in a higher plane adjacent to one side of the apron driving mixing roll, fixed bearmgs for that one of the low apron rolls which is adjacent to the elevated mixing roll, mov

able bearings for the other two apron rolls,

a pressure roll.mounted in movable bearings adjacent to the fixed apron roll, an endless feed apron which goes around and contacts with the three apron rolls and passes between the fixed-{apron roll and said pressure adjacent to the side of the apron driving mixing roll, two pivoted arms which extend upward at an angle toward the apron-driving mixing roll, bearing brackets for the elevated apron roll which are slidably mounted a mixing mill, three apron rolls overwhich said apron runs, viz., two rolls which are located in planes below the mixing roll and one roll which is mounted in a higher plane and adjacent to the side of the apron driving mixing roll, two pivoted arms which extend upward at an angle toward the apron driving mixing roll, bearing brackets for the elevated apron roll which are slidably mounted upon said pivoted arm, means for applying yielding pressure to said bearing brackets to move them upward on said arms, a rock shaft, two arms fixed thereto, and two links which respectively connect said arms and said swinging arms.

4c. In combination with the mixing rolls of a mixing mill, an endless feed apron therefor, three apron rolls over which said apron runs, viz., two rolls whlch are located in planes below the mixing roll and one roll I -wh1ch is mounted in a higher plane and adjacent to the side of the aprondriving mixing roll, two pivoted arms whlch extend upapron roll which are slidably mounted upon said pivoted arm, means for applying yielding pressure to said bearing brackets to move them upward on said arms, a rock shaft, two arms fixed thereto, and two links which respectively connect said arms and said swinging arms, and a weighted arm fixed to said rock shaft and acting to turn the same in the direction which will cause the swinging arms to swing away from the mixing rolls.

5. In combination with the mixing rolls of a mixing mill, three apron rolls. viz.,

two rolls which are located in planes below the mixing roll, and one roll which is mounted in a higher plane and adjacent to the side of the apron-driving mixing rolls, a pressure roll located adjacent and close to that one of the low mixing rolls which is substantially below the elevated apron roll, movable bearings in which said pressure roll is mounted, springs acting on said bearings to move them toward the adjacent apron roll, and an endless feed apron which passes over the three apron rolls and between the pressure roll and the adjacent apron roll andis adapted to be clamped between these two rolls as the pressure roll is moved by said springs.-

6. In combinationwith the mixing rolls of .a mixing mill, an. endless feed apron therefor, three apron rolls over which said apron runs, viz., two rollswh-ichare"located in planes below the mixing roll and one roll which is mounted in a higher plane and adjacent to the side of the -apron driving mixing roll, fixed bearing brackets 'for that 'bne of the low apron rolls which-is adjacent to the elevated apron roll-,- movable bearing brackets for the other low 'apron' roll,--a

pressure roll adjacent to the fixed l-ow apron roll, movable bearing brackets .'for' said pressure roll. and springsw-hich act in opposite directions to move the bearing brackcm of the pressure roll toward the adjacent apron roll and to'resist the movement -in..the

same direction 'of the movablebearing endless feed apron which embraces the three apron rolls and goes between the fixed low apron roll and the adjacent pressure roll.

7; In combination with the mixing rolls of a mixing mill, three apron r0lls, viz., one roll which is located adjacent to one side of the apron-driving mixing roll, and two apron rolls which are located in planes below the mixing rolls, fixed bearings for that one of the low apron rolls which is adjacent to the elevated apron roll, two upwardly inclined swinging arms, bearings for the elevated apron roll slidably mounted upon said swinging arms, means yieldingly pressing said bearingsupward on said arms, two parallel endwise movable rods located below the mixing rolls, bearing brackets for one of the low mixing rolls fixed to said rods, a pressure roll located adjacent to the fixed apron roll, bearing brackets for said pressure roll 'slidably mounted on said endwise movable rods, collars on said endwise movable rods, and springs surrounding said rods and compressed between said collars and the movable bearing brackets of said pressure roll, and an endless feed apron which goes around the three apron rolls and between the fixed apron roll and said pressure roll.

8. In combination with the mixing rolls of a mixing mill, three apron rolls, viz., two rolls which are located in planes below the mixing roll and one roll which is located in a higher plane adjacent to one side of the apron-driving mixing roll, fixed bearings for that one of the low apron rolls which is adjacent to the elevated apron roll, two pivoted arms which extend upward at an angle toward the apron-driving mixing roll, bearings for the elevated apron roll which are slidably mounted upon said pivoted arm's, means for applying yielding pressure to said bearing brackets to move them upward on said arms, movable bearings for the other low apron roll, springs acting to move the last mentioned apron roll in the apron tightening direction, a pressure roll mounted adjacent to the fixed apron roll,- movable bearings in which said pressure troll is mounted, an endless feed apron which embraces the three apron rolls and passes between the fixed apron roll and the pressurevroll, and means by which the movement ofthe movable lowapron roll toward the fixed low apron roll williincrease the pressure of the pressure roll upon the apron which passes between it and the fixed apron roll.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the. presence of two witnesses.

E. L. Ti-lrnzsrox, A. J. HUDso Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. 0. i 

